Success is not easy to reach and life's obstacles can stand in the way, yet there are those who keep on trying no matter what.

"Self accomplishment...I actually want to finish what I start for once," said LCC student Amber Strachan.

Until recently, Strachan was homeless. Her only escape from the streets was the City Rescue Mission women's shelter. She's also a student at the Lansing Community College working toward a bachelor's degree in psychology.

"I'm telling myself, school is the way to go, you'll get a good degree, better job, better money. I'm trying to get myself the good stuff," Strachan said.

Strachan's situation is not unique. According to Dotty Wilinksi, case manager at the City Rescue Mission women's shelter, almost 30% of their residents are students. She says that number is on the rise because many who are unable to find employment are choosing to go back to school to improve their chances of getting a job.

However, without current employment, many who are trying to get a degree face another problem. As the cost of education continues to rise, paying for school can be a challenge.

Strachan was faced with that challenge at Davenport University, where she first started after high school. As an independent student, she was constantly fighting to keep a roof over her head.

"For a while, I was in and out of different houses. I was literally couch hopping," Strachan said.

Eventually, she had to drop out of school.

"I couldn't stress about school and stress about housing at the same time. I was more worried about where I was going to sleep that night."

Val Meyers, associate director of financial aid at Michigan State University, says she's also come across more struggling students, especially those who have no family support.

"They do have to balance so carefully their living expenses, their tuition cost, book cost...One thing goes wrong, you have a medical bill or something like that, you could really fall off that balancing act and you might have to quit school for a while and catch back up," Meyers said.

Then there are loans that must be paid back. Strachan says she's already thousands of dollars in debt and still nowhere close to getting her degree. Nevertheless, she's holding on.

"I do worry sometimes but then I just think I'm going to get a job, I'll be able to pay. Maybe not all of it off quick, but in due time."

For now, Strachan is working hard and moving closer to her dream one step at a time.